Monday 1st September 2008

Set off early to get to Hungerford today, 8 locks and 2 swing bridges.  Good cruise though very windy.  Moored above Hungerford Lock by 2pm.  Had a couple in the Plume of Feathers early doors and an early night.

Tuesday 2nd September 2008 - BIG BRUV'S BIRTHDAY TODAY

Happy birthday Big Bruv and hopefully all goes well on Friday for your final scan.  Set off at 8.20am for Newbury.  Watered up and pumped out at BW site.  Next lock, Dunmill Lock, met up with the family of mum, dad and three lovely girls (late teens early twenty's, cor!)  At first I thought I was seeing things - there seemed to be one of the girls in the water - and there was!  After I tied up at the lock mooring I went to see what was going on only to find that they had fouled their prop with the stern rope and she was trying to get it free.  "What about the weed hatch" I asked, "what weed hatch?" came the reply - they hadn't been shown or told anything about it.  So I showed them where it was which got the rope free in no time and the poor girl out of the water and in for a shower to warm up, poor bugger looked frozen (or was she just pleased to see me!!!)  Also saw Timothy West and his wife Prunella Scales at Kintbury.  Apparently Prunella Scales likens locks to women, whilst waiting for the lock, they give a little groan when they are ready!!!  Got to Newbury by 4pm to find Jim and Fi on Nb Epiphany already there.  Had a couple in Lock, Stock and Barrel early doors and an early night again.

Also saw this wonderful Red Kite soaring over the canal.  You can tell the difference between the Red Kite and the Buzzard because the Kite's tail is scooped inwards and the Buzzard's is rounded outwards.  Also the Kite has white marking under the outside edges of their wings.

To learn more about the Red Kite please click on this link

Wednesday 3rd September 2008

If I'd known what sort of day this was going to be I'd have stayed in bed.  It started well enoughish going through Newbury Lock being helped by a local nutter who insisted on opening both gates as he has to repair them when damaged (I don't think so!) however, the sun was shining and we were on our way. That is until we got to Ham Marsh Lock where with frantic waving from the bank I was pulled up short and had to tie up to two other boats already waiting with two in front also waiting.  Apparently kids had opened ALL FOUR PADDLES on the next lock down, Bulls Lock, and emptied the half mile pound in between completely where the BW lad Mike was franticly trying to refill it so we could all move on.  Two hours later the first two boats went through (30 mins) then the next two (30 mins) then me.  I took Mike down with me so that he could open the swing bridge for me and having got through that promptly grounded Beau just at the lock moorings.  Managed to get her refloated and through the lock OK.  On we go only to meet a chap I last saw by the Folly Pub on the Oxford Canal at the beginning of May.  As we carried on the condition of each lock got worse to the point of being down right dangerous and almost impossible to open single handed as in Midgham Lock.  Finally got tied up at the Row Barge moorings in Woolhampton by 6pm.  Couldn't get a phone signal by the boat so walked down to the pub to call Christine so we can meet up this evening.  Had a quick pint and back to the boat for a shower and change before meeting Christine at about 7pm.  Lovely evening, though I wasn't on top form cos I was knackered from today's events.  What a day, hay ho the joys of boating.

Thursday 4th September 2008

Set off to go through the dreaded Woolhampton lock and swing bridge but with the help of Paul and Jo off Nb Repent at Leisure and their family off Nb Stubbs they made it a doddle.  Going through Aldermaston Lock I was caught up by a couple on a tiny narrowboat called Nemo who between us worked all the locks and swing bridges all the way to Burghfield Bridge where they stopped.  I carried on down to Reading through the infamous County Lock which by comparison to my way up was very calm indeed.  Tied up by the Abbey by 3.30pm

 

 

Friday 5th September 2008

Weather is awful, however, set off to get through Blake's Lock and back onto the Thames.  Carried on up through Caversham Lock and dieseled up at Better Boating's yard at only 89p per litre.  Weather still awful and very gusty winds and even through all this managed to get to my target mooring of Shillingford Bridge.  All day the river has been running faster and faster with me going slower and slower.  What will it be like tomorrow.

Saturday 6th September 2008

ANSWER - NOTHING - all locks upstream are on RED which means the river is in flood and RISING (HELP NOT AGAIN) so it's too dangerous to try and move.  Spent the day, in between showers, playing with Bill although he's a bit under the weather he still chases the ball, bless him.

Sunday 7th September 2008

ALL LOCKS STILL ON RED so staying put and playing with Bill. We both feel better today (I put my back out yesterday but it's much better today)  though it's still raining on and off. Will here for a few more day's yet.

Monday 8th September 2008

Colin, Caroline, James and Simon and Max the dog are my only neighbours on a cruiser called Premiers Crus, although we forgive them being on a tupperware boat and not a proper narrowboat they are a smashing family and great company.  It was the dogs playing together that got us talking of course, meeting up outside each time the rain stopped.  Checked with Day's Lock again, still no go, ALL THE LOCKS ARE NOW ON RED.  Could be the weekend or even next week before I can move north and Colin south.  Took Bill for a long walk down the towpath to Wallingford, about three miles , to stock up on a few things and got the bus back.  We crossed over Benson Lock on the way and the lock mooring are completely underwater.

Also saw this lovely bird this evening a female Red Breasted Merganser

To learn more about the Red Breasted Merganser click on this link

Tuesday 9th September 2008

River still on RED and very showery.  Met up with Colin, Caroline and the boys in the hotel bar for a few beers - these are the first beers since Woolhampton last Thursday - ohh er going into withdrawal.  Excellent banter through the afternoon.  Caroline and the boys are being picked up by a friend later today so they can get home which leave Colin to look after the boat.  Don't think I'm giving state secrets away but Colin is a profiler for the police, similar to Cracker but in a form called geographical profiling of criminal movements and there patterns.  Absolutely fascinating.

Wednesday 10th September 2008

River still on RED.  Relatively quiet day today, took Bill for a walk along this bank of the river and played ball in between showers.  Dryer day altogether today, hopefully the start of the river receding.  Don't hold your breath!

Oh by the way this is the a picture of an Adder I saw recently up at Great Bedwyn, and I thought it was a grass snake!!!

For more information about Adders please click on this link

 

Friday 1st August 2008

Got a call from Henrik to say they're on their way and should be in Bedwyn Station by about 3.30pm.  Walked Bill the long walk up through the fields and back via the bakers and the shop.  Henrik and Susanne arrived spot on time at 3.30pm.  Just a short walk to the boat to get them settled in then off to the Cross Keys for a few beers and fish and chips - excellent.

Saturday 2nd August 2008

Walked Bill up via the church to the bakers and the shop.  Set off for Wooton Rivers at 10am.  Lovely weather and a nice short cruise to get the last visitor mooring above the lock in Wooton Rivers.  Had a few beers early doors in the Royal Oak, dinner back aboard and an early night.

Sunday 3rd August 2008

Short walk for Bill before dropping down through Wooton Rivers Bottom Lock, the last before Devizes.  Heading for Pewsey Wharf today.  Again a short cruise and tied up by 2pm and took the long walk into to town to stock up on a few things.  Had a few beers in the French Horn and a couple in Shag's Bar (The Waterfront) before dinner.

Monday 4th August 2008

Weather changing to wet and windy.  Set off for Honey Street by 10am and tied up by the Barge Inn by 12pm.  Quiet afternoon reading and snoozing out of the rain.  Early doors in the Barge with the strange people!!!!  Tacos for dinner, yum yum.

Tuesday 5th August 2008

Lousy weather but set off for Devizes by 10am.  Stopped off at the Bridge Inn for lunch and met up with Stuart again.  Moored up in Devizes in the pouring rain by 2.30pm.  Few beers in the Artichoke early doors and an early night.

Wednesday 6th August 2008

Weather improved slightly.  Took Henrik, Susanne and Bill down the Caen Hill flight of locks to show them what they have had to do given more time!  Back into town to explore and have a look around the Wadworth Brewery Visitor Centre.  Set off for the Bridge Inn about 1pm after watering up and pumping out.  Short cruise and tied up by 2.30pm in time for a quick beer and to book a table for this evening.  Good laugh with Stuart, Adrian and Nikki.  Nice evening.

Thursday 7th August 2008

Set off for Honey Street after walking Bill around the big meadow.  Spent the afternoon in the Barge with the spooky people.  No wonder this is the centre of the world for crop circles.

Here are some examples of designs that have "appeared" in field of wheat or barley etc. where the crops have been flattened down to make the patterns.  These apparently appear over night with "apparently" no knowledge of how they got there although many people think aliens are involved.  I think a lot of beer is involved if the truth be known!!!!

However they got there they are fantastic pieces of art.

For more information on Crop Circle click on this link

Friday 8th August 2008

Last leg with Henrik and Susanne.  Set off for Pewsey Wharf at about 10am.  Pleasant cruise in reasonable weather.  Tied up by 12pm.  Had a walk down to Pewsey to stock up on a few bits and pieces and a quick beer with Shag.  Had a major row with a pair of hotel boats who I'd crossed swords with before at Wooton Rivers when they literally barged me out of the way to get at the water point even though I was no where near.  And guess what they did it again so I gave them hell.  Good fun.  Early doors in the French Horn for dinner and back via Shag's for a few where I got a round of applause from all for having a go at the hotel boats cos they've been causing trouble all summer.

Saturday 9th August 2008

Up early to get Henrik and Susanne to the station in Pewsey for the 8.15am train to Reading where they get the bus to Heathrow.  Sad to see them go, wish we'd had better weather.  However, still had a great week just like old times when Henrik and I travelled together for work to the likes of Dubai, Beirut, Warsaw and Vilnius etc.  Always laughing whatever happened.  Great mates thanks for coming over and look forward to next year.

Sunday 10th August 2008

Walked Bill on his nature trail into town to get the papers.  Into the Waterfront for about 2pm.  Just about to leave after a couple but who should come in but Mark and Nicky - yahoo - feel a headache coming on.  Cor they've travelled for 9 hours in the pouring rain just to get here as a surprise.  Brilliant mates.

Monday 11th August 2008

Mark, Nicky, Bill and I set off for Devizes at about 9.30am, 12 miles but no locks and only two swing bridges.  Tied up at the wharf and set off to explore the town where Mark found a Witherspoon pub that had just opened today.  Chaos with all the new staff but worth it cos a pint of Pedigree is only £1.95!!!!!

Tuesday 12th August 2008

Back to Witherspoon for a full English breakfast for only £2.90 - can't be bad.  Spotted the Wadworth dray and the shire horses delivering to the Artichoke pub, wonderful sight.  Managed to get back and call Nicky in time for her to get some pics too.  Said our goodbyes as I'm going back to the Bridge tonight and they're off down Caen Hill and on to Bristol.  Good night in the Bridge again.  Said goodbye 'till 2010.

Wednesday 13th August 2008

Set off early after our long walk around the meadow.  Lousy weather again for the long cruise back to Pewsey Wharf and finally managed to get tied up at the Wharf on the moorings outside the Waterfront.  Met Mike and showed him around the boat and what needs doing while I'm away.  Met up again with Mike and Lynn in the French Horn for dinner.  What a great night lots of stories and jokes - excellent company.  Popped into Shag's for a nightcap with Jane and Graham.  Bill showed his appreciation by peeing the flag of St George!!! Sorry George and Graham.

Thursday 14th August to the 27th August - SUNDERLAND first time off Beau since moving on last year - very strange!

Sadly my brother has to go in to hospital next week so I'm going up to Sunderland to be with him for a few weeks.  Booked a hire car from Enterprise who came from Andover to collect me and take back to their office to sign all the appropriate documents.  Well this is an experience this is the first time I've driven a car for almost EIGHTEEN MONTHS - EEK.  Did the first ten miles at 5 MPH convinced the car was going to turn over at every bend.  Finally got up to 40 MPH argh Warp factor 9 lightspeed.  Six and a half hours later arrived in Sunderland.

Met up with all my old school mates and most days took Bill along the beach, which he thought was fantastic running in and out of the surf and in the Royal Marine pub.

 

 

Thursday 28th August 2008

Took the infernal combustion engine back.  Enterprise are excellent, very helpful and VERY CHEAP - about £12 a day!!!  Met Mike at the boat as I got back.  Met up with Mike and Lynn again for early doors for a few fair  well beers to say goodbye to them and to Jane and Graham and thank you for all your help and friendship.  Oh and Bill didn't pee on anything this time.

Friday 29th August 2008

Set off for Crofton in lovely weather, at last, at about 9.30am.  What's this strange contraption impeding my progress - oh yes it's a lock - haven't seen one of those for nearly a month.  Only 8 more to do and only a wide beam behind me so not much help there though they did close the lock gates after i left each one, thanks pals.  Got to Crofton by 3pm knackered but pleased to be on the move.  Walked Bill the mile or so to Wilton village and the Swan pub.  Chatted to a couple from New Zealand of a Nb called Beullah Ellen.  Pizza for dinner and an early night.

Saturday 30th August 2008

Set off for Great Bedwyn at about 9.30am just as another boat also cast off too - excellent - had help all the way down.  Walked Bill back to the lock and up through the church to the village for a couple in the Three Tuns and a swifty in the Cross Keys at 3pm.  Guess who's turned up, Basil and Jenny on Nb Wandering Star.  Jiggled the boats around and got him moored up for the night.

Sunday 31st August 2008

Took Bill on the long walk up through the fields and back via the church to the village to get the papers.  On the way saw what I thought was a grass snake basking in the sunshine only to find when I got back and looked it up it was actually a Viper which is venomous!!!!  Good job I didn't try and pick it up!!!!  Went up to the Three Tuns for Sunday lunch - fantastic - Rare Beef Sirloin cooked to perfection - heartily recommended.  Also bought some tickets for the famous Sunday meat draw.  Walked down to the Cross Keys to meet up with Basil and Jenny for a couple then they came back up to the Three Tuns for the meat draw and guess what I won twice this time, a pack of 18 Lincolnshire sausages, which I shared with Basil and Jenny and a massive rump steak which is ALL for me - yum yum.  Oh and David and Jen that I met at Cropston tied up along side me for the night.